About Us

It started out as one simple idea: a picnic to feed the homeless children and youth of Arusha. Along with a fresh hot meal, the street kids were also given soap to bathe and wash their clothes, an opportunity to share their stories with the community, and mentorship to become a leader.
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About Us

It started out as one simple idea: a picnic to feed the homeless children and youth of Arusha. Along with a fresh hot meal, the street kids were also given soap to bathe and wash their clothes, an opportunity to share their stories with the community, and mentorship to become a leader.

The Result

A change in the negative perception of street kids and a new-found hope for their lives.

At the picnics, kids are able to feel safe, share their stories and receive nourishment both physically and emotionally.

The inaugural Street Kid Picnic, founded on October 2011, proved to be a great success.

“I remember the first time when I told Mark the idea. He said I’m crazy and I told him yes, that’s why I have to make it possible,” recalls Samson when he first approached Mark about the picnic. Despite the very short notice the two rallied together a group of volunteers, chefs and community members and accomplished their goal.

The result: 15 street youth, 10 volunteers, 3 cooks and many other members from the community took part in the very first Street Kid Picnic in Arusha, Tanzania on October 8, 2011.

Officially registered as a non-profit in June 2012, the Street Kid Picnics have helped over 1000 children and youth living on the streets of Arusha, Tanzania, with countless more kids leaving the streets to escape life.

We are a community of people who foster confidence and collaboration, drawing on people’s strength and diversity to show the wider community that those living dire poverty are not limited to their circumstances.

The Result

A change in the negative perception of street kids and a new-found hope for their lives.

At the picnics, kids are able to feel safe, share their stories and receive nourishment both physically and emotionally.

The inaugural Street Kid Picnic, founded on October 2011, proved to be a great success.

“I remember the first time when I told Mark the idea. He said I’m crazy and I told him yes, that’s why I have to make it possible,” recalls Samson when he first approached Mark about the picnic. Despite the very short notice the two rallied together a group of volunteers, chefs and community members and accomplished their goal.

The result: 15 street youth, 10 volunteers, 3 cooks and many other members from the community took part in the very first Street Kid Picnic in Arusha, Tanzania on October 8, 2011.

Officially registered as a non-profit in June 2012, the Street Kid Picnics have helped over 1000 children and youth living on the streets of Arusha, Tanzania, with countless more kids leaving the streets to escape life.

We are a community of people who foster confidence and collaboration, drawing on people’s strength and diversity to show the wider community that those living dire poverty are not limited to their circumstances.

What are we doing?

Street To Feat’s is empowering kids living on the streets in Tanzania. We use the picnic as our tool to gather, mentor and inspire children and youth from the streets. By doing this we can develop leaders in the community and encourage them to pursue their dreams through mentorship, education, and hard work.

Why Tanzania?

Tanzania is where co-founders Mark and Samson began their friendship, where the Street Kid Picnic was held, and where the entire Street to Feat project began.

If one former street kid can help 1000 (and counting), then imagine how many lives one more empowered street kid can touch in their community and globally.

What is the Street Kid Picnic?

The Street Kid Picnic is first and only street picnic in Tanzania. The picnic is a tool led by a former street kid to motivate and empower 1000’s of other street kids and youth in Arusha. By using his success, Samson is enabling other street kids with big dreams to convert their hope into action. Since its founding, the picnics have helped over 1000 kids and youth and counting, with several taking big steps and leaving the streets. 

A university graduate, Samson built his career in education with an international school, pioneered a paper on gender equity studies on women and children in Tanzania, and is the director of the picnics. His passion?  Motivating and empowering other street kids to do the same. Since its founding, the picnics have helped over 1000 kids and youth and counting.

Samson is an inspiration for the street kids and is living proof that they too can reach their full potential, overcome adversity and build a successful life.

Our Values

Our values are:
• Inspiration
• Passion
• Trust and Respect
• Companionship
• Connection

We champion our values and provide positive leadership and inspiration for the children and youth.

Our Commitment

Respect: We listen and work with the children and youth to understand their individual needs and goals.

Honesty and integrity: We are honest with the youth and children and follow through on our commitments.

Good work ethic: We will champion good work ethics and exemplify excellent leadership that will encourage and empower the children and youth to do the same.

Our Culture

We form a culture where we value and support each other and come together as a motivated, passionate, collaborative team to work with homeless children and youth on the streets. Our relationships are based on a spirit of unity that underpin all that we do, we encourage and enable personal contribution and are proud to be a part of Street to Feat.

Our Goals

Inspire and empower marginalized children and youth and develop them into strong future leaders with a commitment to build lasting change not only in their lives but within the community.

Our Misssion

To transform the lives of homeless children and youth by assisting them to overcome the challenges on the streets and working with them to move from crisis, poverty and desolation into stability, independence and (self) respect.

Our Vision

Inspire and empower marginalized children and youth and develop them into strong future leaders with a commitment to build lasting change not only in their lives but within the community.

Our Goals

Inspire and empower marginalized children and youth and develop them into strong future leaders with a commitment to build lasting change not only in their lives but within the community.

Our Misssion

To transform the lives of homeless children and youth by assisting them to overcome the challenges on the streets and working with them to move from crisis, poverty and desolation into stability, independence and (self) respect.

Our Vision

Inspire and empower marginalized children and youth and develop them into strong future leaders with a commitment to build lasting change not only in their lives but within the community.

The Team

Samson Elisante
Co-Founder

Co-founder Samson, through hard work and determination, went from living on the streets to achieving his dream. A former street kid himself, Samson is Street to Feat’s innovator.

Samson is an inspiration for the children because through encouragement and assistance, he achieved his life goals: completed university education and is currently working for one of the largest private schools in Tanzania that educates gifted, under-privileged children. As a result of his success, Samson wanted to give back to the community with a focus on children and youth living on the streets. Samson is motivated to help children and youth aspire for their goals and is fully dedicated to helping them reach their potential through leadership, education and passion, as well as changing the negative perception of the community about the street kids. 

Samson holds a post graduate diploma in education and a degree in Community Development with a major in Gender Development and pioneered a paper on gender equity policies on women and children in Tanzania. He also attended the advanced stages of an intensive International Empowerment and Leadership Program in Nairobi, Kenya.

Mark Tannous
Co-Founder

An avid philanthropist, Mark found his passion to help under-privileged youth through his volunteer work in his hometown of Toronto, Canada. In June 2008, Mark came to Tanzania as a passionate youth advocate on a mission to help local marginalized youth. However, Mark’s experience did not turn out as expected when he discovered bureaucracy and inefficiencies behind the NGO, which altered his perception about how not-for-profit organizations around the world operate. Despite this, Mark was moved by the stories of the street kids and was inspired to take action at a more grassroots level. One friend in particular, Samson, particularly inspired Mark and through their dedication and passion, together they created Street to Feat.

Mark’s aim is to continue to work with youth overseas. He believes that through leadership, empowerment, integrity and dedication, these homeless children and youth have the capacity to fulfill their dreams and in turn become responsible, engaged global citizens. He challenges the youth to create progressive and sustainable endeavours that will make a long term impact on their lives and within their community.